Use this glossary to look up the meanings of words you come across on this website, or in your astrological reading. Just select the first letter of the word you need and click on it in the table below to go straight to that sector.

G

Galactic Centre

The centre of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, currently located at Sag 27░00'. This point, predicted in 1918 and discovered in 1932, is a gigantic radio source (called Sagittarius A) surrounding what is thought to be a supermassive black hole (Sagittarius A*) with the mass of some four million times that of our own Sun. It has a significant effect when aspected, inclining people to take a central role in affairs and to have a sense of cosmic destiny.

Galactic Core

Galactic Centre.

Galaxy

A vast grouping of billions of stars and associated cosmic phenomena bound together by gravity and orbiting a common centre. According to science, billions of galaxies thousands of light-years in diameter are scattered across the universe, with pretty well nothing much occupying the vast space between them (unless of course you count the so-called "dark matter" postulated by the latest cosmological theories). Almost all of the visible stars in the night sky, including our own Solar System, are part of the Milky Way Galaxy. Most galaxies external to our own require a telescope to see clearly. Notable exceptions are the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and the Andromeda Galaxy, which are visible to the naked eye. Galaxies as such have no astrological significance, though esoteric teachings hold that they are each a "body" of a divine being.

Galen

Famous 2nd Century Greek physician who taught, following Hippocrates, that the body was composed of four humours, sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic (related to the four elements of Aristotle) and that health consisted in maintaining the balance between them. His treatments were primarily holistic and designed to restore the humoral balance: diet, exercise, administering purgatives, diuretics or emetics, and blood-letting. See Humours.

Galileo

Galileo Galilei (15 Feb. 1564 – 8 Jan. 1642), known as the father of modern physics, was a supporter of the Copernican system and made much use of the telescope in his observation of the solar system. He discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter, known as the Galilean moons in his honour. Galileo first observed and published the phases of Venus, thus supporting the heliocentric theory, and made many other discoveries, including the rings of Saturn and that the fixed stars were actually suns, perceived as small because of immense distance. He argued vehemently against Aristotle and Ptolemy. His views were declared heretical and although he ended his life under house arrest, he has become one of the most influential scientists in history.

Gematria

Qabbalistic system of encoding meaning using the numerical values of the letters of the alphabet, particularly the Hebrew alphabet. The Qabbala is a method of encoding and interpreting esoteric meanings in the Hebrew scriptures. Other ancient alphabets also served the dual purpose of numerical systems as well as alphabetical symbols. Among them, the Greek, the Sanskrit, and the Roman alphabet (used in most modern Western languages), also possess numerical values, which are used in Numerology.

Gemini

The third sign of the zodiac. Mutable and airy. Ruled by Mercury. Emblem: The Twins. More about Gemini.

Geminids

Impressive annual meteor shower peaking around December 14, arising from a radiant in the constellation Gemini. First observed in modern times, these have no known astrological import.

Genethlialogy

The study of Birth Charts in Natal Astrology.

Genethliacal

Pertaining to Birth Charts in Natal Astrology.

Gender

The universal spirit contains both masculine and feminine principles expressed in the world as contrasting energies seeking creative union and so attaining balance. Cosmic energies are defined in astrology and occult work in general as either

From the hermetic point of view, the masculine principle is primarily a creative and fertilising force, or will, while the feminine principle is primarily an imaging, formulating and nourishing force, or ground, that brings the will into material form. These principles are by no means the same as male and female (although sexuality expresses gender at the biological level) and do not imply that males exclusively express all masculine characteristics, nor that females exclusively express all feminine characteristics as listed. Clearly both sexes express a mixture of polar characteristics across a broad spectrum. See Polarity. See also Masculine & Feminine.

Geniture

The Birth Chart.

Geocentric

The Earth as the centre of observation and influence. Astrological aspects are geocentric, as they relate to the Earth. See Heliocentric.

Geocentric Model of the Universe

Dominant classical view of the universe developed by in the 5th Century BC by Plato and systematised by Aristotle, wherein the Earth held the central position. The planets and fixed stars were believed to revolve around a spherical Earth, affixed to crystalline spheres. Ptolemy in the 2nd Century AD developed a scientifically refined version of this system, which held sway until the 17th Century, when it began to be replaced by the modern Heliocentric Model developed by Galileo, Copernicus and Kepler, and tied together by Newton. See Ptolemy.

Geomancy

Astrological Geomancy: divination by means of figures, originally created by making dots in the sand, and later formalised as diagrams on parchment. Sixteen possible figures consisting of single or pairs of points are set into a tableau. Each figure has a name, associations with elements, planets, etc., and good or bad qualities. Interpretation depends on the meanings of the figures in particular locations in the tableau, and owes a great deal to the practice of mediŠval astrology. Unlike astrology, however, geomancy requires no instruments or complex calculations. More on Geomancy (offsite)

Divination using stones, crystals and other natural features of the landscape

Shaping of the landscape and the built environment via geometric and numerical figures in order to gain or maximise control over the subtle energies of the Earth's etheric field. Feng Shui (China) and Vaastu (India) are traditional methods of optimising these environmental energies.

Gibbous Moon

The phase of the Moon between the first quarter and the full (waxing gibbous) and between the full and the third quarter (waning gibbous), where more than half of the illuminated surface of the moon is visible. See Moon Phases.

Gnosis

Direct knowledge of, or union with the divine. The ultimate aim of hermetic and esoteric practice. Renaissance astrology, alchemy and magic were particularly concerned with the attainment of Gnosis.

Gnostic

Seeker of Gnosis. In antiquity, gnostics believed that the divine soul in man was trapped in matter and sought to be liberated into perfect understanding and higher truth. Gnostic Christian sects were declared heretical by the early Church.

Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the heavens. A.k.a. Great Conjunction.

Grand Cross

Two sets of oppositions at right angles to each other. An aspect representing very difficult energy, it creates frustration, anger, stress, intensity and the feeling of always being on a treadmill. It promotes self-growth and endurance.

Grand Trine

An aspect pattern comprising three planets spaced 120░ apart around the chart, so emphasising one of the four elements. A trine is a generally fortunate aspect, which nourishes the continuous use of natural talents and abilities, is an area of comfort, and can assist the native in the expression of harmony in the areas denoted by the houses stimulated. A Grand Trine would seem to be a multiplication of this, but can be quite the opposite, creating laziness and overconfidence in the natal chart and undue optimism when formed by transits, depending on the planets concerned.

A circle contained within the celestial sphere that has its centre on the same point as the centre of the celestial sphere.

Great Conjunction

Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the heavens. A.k.a. Grand Conjunction.

Greater Benefic (Greater Fortune)

Jupiter. Venus is the Lesser Benefic (Lesser Fortune).

Gregorian Calendar

The modern Western Calendar, instituted by Pope Gregory as a more accurate modification of the Julian Calendar. The Julian Calendar, introduced in 45 BC, had gradually fallen out of synch with the seasons, due to the precession of the equinoxes. The Gregorian Calendar was first implemented on 15th October 1582 in Spain and Portugal and parts of Italy. It was eventually accepted by other countries and by now has been widely though not exclusively accepted.

Grid

Supposed interlocking patterns of subtle energies that cover the planet. Using the image of the electromagnetic grid operated by phone companies and the like, it has been said to power UFO's, permit contact with "Light Beings", enable psychic transmissions, or any number of other uses. It is not generally postulated to explain astrological phenomena. See Magnetic Currents.